HYDERABAD: The court of senior civil judge and judicial magistrate-V was informed by a revenue official on Wednesday that the entry in city survey record regarding a plot located inside heritage site of Pucca Qila had been cancelled by Hyderabad deputy commissioner on Aug 31, 2023.

The mukhtiarkar and city survey officer made the revelation in a statement field in the court in response to a civil suit filed by plaintiff, Mohammad Shaukat, who was a Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist, claiming ownership of the plot.

The plaintiff claimed that he owned the plot measuring 292 sq yds but he was not being allowed to make construction on it by the district administration, hence, he requested the court to restrain respondents from dispossessing the suit property.

The mukhtiarkar said in his one page statement that the plot No.1414 was entered in the record in the name of Mohammad Shaukat son of Haji Mohammad Saghir “on the basis of registered deed vide R.D. No 5582 dated 2.12.2013”.

He said: “Another entry dated March 10, 2015, plot No.859 area 48-0 sq yds was entered in the name of four persons on the basis of lease from Sindh Katchi Abadi through its nazim for a period of 99 years vide registered deed No.2243 dated June 20, 2006, and M.F. Roll No.1411 dated Aug 23, 2006. These four persons included Ms Feroza, widow of Shaikh Babban, Ms Amina daughter of Shaikh Babban, Ms Rukhsana daughter of Nanney Khan, Ms Shahida daughter of Nanney Khan.

“However, both the entries have been cancelled by deputy commissioner Hyderabad vide his order No. DC/HVC/Hyd/1402/2023/798 dated Aug 31, 2023. Such note is also inserted on both the above entries,” read the mukhtiarkar’s statement.

He submitted such a report along with photostat copies of property cards for the court’s perusal.

Archaeology assistant director Sindhu Chandio appeared before the court and again sought time to file a statement in the matter on behalf of director culture. The court adjourned the hearing till Nov 30. The status quo order passed by the court would remain intact.

The outgoing DC Fuad Ghaffar Soomro had cancelled entries of this piece of land inside the heritage site and ordered a fully-fledged inquiry against Ms Chandio in findings of the same case which had not yet been begun its probe.

Hyderabad municipal commissioner had on the last date of hearing informed the court that the property was a ‘protected’ government land under international as well as local laws and its lease deeds were managed by ‘fraud’.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2023